The home of SwiftCraftyMonkey Formulating Inc.! Join Susan as she obsesses about cosmetic chemistry and other things (some possibly related to monkeys). Often strange, occasionally useful, and always worth a stop as a point of interest on your journey through the Intertron.
Neossance hemisqualane (INCI: 13-15 alkane) is like squalane, although this one is derived from sugar, not olives, or amaranth. It can reduce frizzies, so the cuticle lays flatter, so you get more shine. I’ve used this in a leave in conditioner and it works well for me on less humid days for my frizzy prone...
In this post, Patreon Q&A: What’s a good vegan replacement for panthenol?, Doris asked for some ideas for substitutions for panthenol as she was worried it wasn’t vegan. The version I’ve been using are vegan, but it’s fun to think of other ingredients we might use in our products, so let’s take a look at...
In this post, we took a look at a few ingredients we could use as possible replacements for panthenol in hair care products as Doris was concerned that panthenol might be derived from animal sources. We ascertained that the versions I have at home from Voyageur Soap & Candle, Lotioncrafter, and Making Cosmetics are vegan,...
In the February Q&A, Cecilia asked: I’m picking up some new things again. Looking for more naturally-derived/natural adjacent stuff. Looking for thickeners, emulsifiers, surfactants (I have SCI, CB, decyl and coco glucosides I think), any cool actives, preservatives… doesn’t have to be natural. but what would be your top say 10 or so ingredients, I...
Wow, how is it March already? I completely forgot February was a short month, so I was surprised when I saw it was the first today. (In my defence, I am full of various pain killers and muscle relaxants, and I’ve only just realized the calendar in our bedroom still says January.) As a note,...